Chapter 25: The Struggle between Yuxiu and Zhao Xixia

Having signed the promise letter that represented their friendship, Lin You and Zhong Yuxiu were now good friends.

In their innocence, they firmly believed this to be true!

“Yuxiu, how are you getting along with your new deskmate?”

The image of Zhao Xixia’s arrogant figure appeared in Lin You’s mind, and he asked with a bit of curiosity.

This noble-looking girl who had appeared out of nowhere gave him a sense of unapproachability.

Of course, he had no desire to get close to her either.

He was only asking because he was worried that his friend, Yuxiu, wouldn’t get along with Zhao Xixia.

“That girl has no manners at all. I don’t even want to be her deskmate.”

At the mention of Zhao Xixia, the usually quiet Yuxiu became angry.

Not only was the other girl arrogant, speaking to Yuxiu in a condescending tone, but she had also used the word “freak” to describe Lin You.

In Yuxiu’s mind, she had already labeled Zhao Xixia as someone to be avoided at all costs.

“Did she bully you?”

Lin You asked nervously.

If his good friend was being bullied, he would feel upset too.

“No, I’m not the kind of girl who’s easily bullied. Don’t worry.”

The angry girl felt the boy’s concern, and her mood instantly brightened.

This simple, unadorned care between friends was truly wonderful.

“That’s good. Yuxiu, if anyone bullies you, you have to tell me. I’ll find a way to help you.”

Lin You breathed a sigh of relief, but he was still a little worried.

“Youyou, if you get bullied, you have to tell me too.”

Zhong Yuxiu wasn’t worried about herself; she felt that the boy was the one most likely to be bullied.

“Okay.”

Lin You lowered his head and looked at the promise letter again, his gaze lingering on their signatures and fingerprints.

As the sun gradually rose, more and more students appeared on campus.

Under her mother’s watchful gaze, Yuting reluctantly walked through the school gate.

“That horrible mom, she hits so hard. Was I picked from a trash can?”

Her hand would occasionally rub her bottom as she muttered a complaint or two under her breath.

“Good thing I kept my secret with Ah You. Hey, but it looks like I won’t be able to go to the children’s park tonight.”

The girl had no interest in school at all; her mind was completely filled with thoughts of Lin You.

“That’s right, Ah You is a student in Grade One, Class Two. I’ll go take a look at him on the way!”

An idea struck Yuting, and her slow steps quickened.

She and Lin You were in the same school building; she was just on the second floor, and the boy was on the first.

She didn’t have to go out of her way. She just needed to pay a little attention as she passed by the classroom of Class Two.

The thought of seeing her boy-friend made Yuting stride forward, ignoring the pain in her bottom.

Outside the classroom of Class Two, in the hallway.

Yuting stopped by the window, eagerly peering inside.

There were many lower-grade students inside, but she still managed to spot the boy in the corner right away.

At this moment, Lin You was reading a book to pass the time and didn’t notice Yuting’s gaze.

‘I really want to go in and say a few words to Ah You, but I promised him I’d pretend not to know him during the day.’

Yuting was in a dilemma, wanting to greet him but held back by their promise.

‘I’ll find a chance to talk to Ah You after school.’

In the end, the girl gave up on the idea.

Ring ring ring.

The bustling campus quieted down as classes officially began.

“Class, please line up to receive your school uniforms. From now on, you must wear them to school every day…”

The head teacher and the P.E. teacher walked into the classroom carrying heavy piles of school uniforms.

Starting with the first group, the students lined up one by one to go to the podium, where the head teacher would distribute the appropriate-sized uniforms.

According to the order, Lin You knew he would be the last.

He wasn’t in a hurry. He planned to practice writing his name some more, striving to make it as neat as Yuxiu’s.

‘Hey, Youyou is so far back. What if they run out of uniforms by the time it’s his turn?’

Yuxiu was in the second group, so her turn would be soon. She frequently turned her head to look in the boy’s direction, feeling anxious for him.

“Is there something wrong with your neck? What are you turning around for?”

A somewhat provocative voice sounded in Yuxiu’s ear. It was her deskmate, Zhao Xixia.

“What’s it to you?”

Yuxiu was quiet, but by no means weak. Coupled with the fact that she already disliked Zhao Xixia, she immediately retorted.

“Don’t tell me you’re looking at that red-faced freak? What’s so interesting about a guy like that? I really don’t understand you country kids.”

Zhao Xixia didn’t stop there, continuing to spout comments that made Yuxiu’s brow furrow.

“Shut up, Zhao Xixia! Do you want me to tattle to the teacher?”

Yuxiu clenched her little fists, unable to bear it any longer, and pulled out her strongest weapon.

“Go ahead and tattle to the teacher if you have the guts. Let’s see if she criticizes me or you.”

An ordinary student would have backed down, but Zhao Xixia was unfazed.

“Teacher, Zhao Xixia’s mouth is dirty. She’s insulting people.”

Yuxiu raised her hand on the spot and reported the situation directly to the head teacher.

The commotion instantly drew the attention of the entire class.

Lin You was no exception.

‘Is Yuxiu being bullied? I’m her friend, I have to find a way to help her.’

The boy worried secretly, no longer in the mood to focus on his own things.

“Zhong Yuxiu, Zhao Xixia, come outside with the teacher for a moment.”

The head teacher’s brow furrowed. She handed the task of distributing uniforms to the P.E. teacher and called the two little girls out of the classroom.

“What’s going on with you two? You should get along with your classmates. How can you argue?”

The head teacher’s words sounded more and more wrong to Yuxiu.

“Head Teacher, it was Zhao Xixia who started it.”

The girl wanted to correct this point.

“It takes two to tango. Also, don’t interrupt when the teacher is speaking.”

The head teacher cut off her explanation with a stern voice.

“I…”

Yuxiu closed her mouth, feeling wronged.

As for Zhao Xixia, she looked on casually at the green belt in the distance, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

“Don’t let this happen again. Otherwise, I’ll call your parents.”

The head teacher turned a blind eye to Zhao Xixia’s nonchalant behavior.

“Go back to your classroom.”

After sending the two little girls back to the classroom, the head teacher wiped the sweat from her forehead.

As a teacher with professional ethics, she didn’t want to blatantly favor Zhao Xixia, but her superiors had instructed her beforehand to give her special consideration.

Therefore, Yuxiu’s attempt to tattle to the teacher could only end in disappointment.

“Well, are you happy? You brought this on yourself, you know.”

Zhao Xixia looked at the sullen girl and taunted her to her face.

“…I hate you.”

Yuxiu also realized Zhao Xixia’s special status, and a sense of powerlessness welled up in her heart.

“Hehe.”

Zhao Xixia’s tender face wore a malicious smile that was unbefitting of her age.

“I don’t need you to like me. Zhong Yuxiu, it’s so interesting to see you looking so helpless.”

Her teasing gaze was like a cat playing with a mouse.